| Collins (Carine) House |
| Years of Operation | 1975-1987 (Collins House); 1987-1997 (Carine House) |
| Sponsoring Agency | Presbyterian Church / Uniting Church of Australia / Uniting Church Child and Family Care Services / Mofflyn |
Other facilities in
Signposts that are
related to the
Sponsoring Agency | See the entry “Uniting Church” in the earlier section of Signposts, “List of Facilities” |
| Address(es) | 41 Woodroyd Street, Mt Lawley (1975-1987); Carine (1987-1997); then Marangaroo (1997 - |
| Aliases | Subsequently moved and was named “Carine House”, which was relocated to Marangaroo. |
| Brief History | Administration files from the Department record that Collins House was a community-based specialist treatment facility developed by the Presbyterian Church in 1975.
6 children in residence at June 30, 1975 (5 Wards and 1 private admission). At this time, Colllins House provided long or short term care for boys and girls of any age. Collins House had a garden, play area, swimming pool, swings and slides, barbeque, tennis courts, one pet, a basketball court, bikes and a range of sporting equipment. Children were encouraged to build their own cubby. There were 2 bedrooms – 1 double, and one that could sleep three or more children and a lounge room; a TV and radio or radiogram were available. Children were transported to the Special School which they attended, taking their lunch with them. The brick building was described as fitting in well with surrounding premises. (Department of Child Welfare Submission to the Committee of Enquiry into Residential Child Care, July 1976).
The WELSTAT (welfare statistics) Collection of 1979 notes Collins House as a ‘scattered group home’ (ie. “a family group home whose grounds do not adjoin those of another family group home, or other residential child care establishment, operated by the same enterprise.”) that was operated by an agency other than the Department.
It appears from Departmental records that Collins House was not being funded through the Consultative Committee on Residential Child Care in 1982.
“Caregivers in group homes comprise one couple who live-in, ideally caring for up to eight children. Generally, the husband continues in his existing employment, with the wife paid either an honorarium or wage. Group homes operate on a model where substitute care is provided until changes in the circumstances of the child’s original caregivers permit their return home. In some instances a child may move on to other carers on a more permanent basis (as in adoption) or with older youth to semi-independent accommodation. Group care services provided through the non-government sector fall under the mandate of the Consultative Committee on Residential Child Care, and provide cottage care via salaried child care worker staff. The contemporary trend towards community based group care services for children is resulting in the closure of institutionalized settings and campus-based residential facilities.” (Submission of the Department for Community Services to the Residential Planning Review Taskforce, March 31st 1987).
In 1987, Collins House and its occupants moved to a new house in Carine.
In 1990, the partial funding ($20,500) which Mofflyn received through the Residential Child Care and Alternative Services Vote via the Department for the Carine House program was “transferred across to the Authority for Intellectually Handicapped budget.” (Report on the Activities of the Consultative Committee on Residential Child Care in 1989/90, February 1991).
In addition to the entries mentioned above, the Presbyterian Church and Mofflyn have their own entries in Signposts, and these should be consulted as they give more information about the approach taken. |
| Records | Records may exist through UnitingCare West, or through the Department of Communities [as former Department for Child Protection (DCP) and the Disability Services Commission (DSC)]. |
| Access | While access to records is restricted to protect the privacy of individuals, people are encouraged to enquire. |
| Contact Details | Freedom of Information
Department of Communities
Locked Bag 5000, Fremantle WA 6959
Telephone: (08) 6414 3344
Country free call: 1800 176 888
Email: foi@communities.wa.gov.au
Website: www.communities.wa.gov.au
For records other than those held by Government agencies:
UnitingCare West
Central Office
16 Sunbury Road
VICTORIA PARK WA 6100
Postal Address:
GPO Box B74
PERTH WA 6838
Telephone: 1300 663 298 (08) 9355 9116
Facsimile: 1300 663 528
Email: admin@unitingcarewest.org.au
www.unitingcarewest.org.au
or
Synod of Western Australia
UCA Archives Research Centre
1st Floor 10 Pier Street, Perth WA 6000
Telephone: (08) 9221 6911
Facsimile: (08) 9221 6863
Email: archiveswa@amnet.net.au |
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